Salomonic Lula.

www.falkland-malvinas.com Mercosur Wednesday, 22 January

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva clearly identified with the anti globalization ideas of the Porto Alegre Social Forum, this week end will be the guest star at the Davos World Economic Forum, where he will try to convince leading businessmen and industry captains to trust Brazil and keep investing in the country.

Prte. Lula da Silva His own Workers Party was instrumental in the creation of the Social Forum that emerged precisely to counter attack the globalization ideas of Davos in Switzerland.

Just a few months ago, then candidate Lula was preaching “while Davos discusses how to accumulate more wealth, we at the Social Forum discuss how to distribute more fairly; they well know (Davos) that the reigning violence in the world originates in the insensibility of the men who command the world economy”.

But now as head of an administration needy of investments and the trust of the men who command the world economy, President Lula accepted the invitation to participate in the annual Davos meeting.

And in an attempt not to contradict and irritate many of his supporters in the Workers Party and the Porto Alegre Social Forum, Mr. Lula’s ministers have assured that the president will be taking to Davos the Social Forum critical message. President Lula also promised he will be present at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre that convenes almost simultaneously with Davos, in the south of Brazil.

However the Brazilian president already has been exposed to severe criticism from distinguished followers such as sociologist Emir Sader who in an open letter said that “Lula must not be present at the banquet of those responsible for the world’s misery; Lula must not expose his prestige in a party of bankers who are responsible for famine in Africa, Asia and here in Brazil”, said Mr. Sader.

Anyhow, besides the critical message about inhuman capitalism Mr. Lula in Davos will have to ratify his administration’s respect for Brazil’s commitments. Instead of scaring capitalists Mr. Lula will assure investors that he plans no surprises and request trust in Brazil and his administration.

President Lula’s compromising agenda has him travelling this Friday to the Porto Alegre Social Forum and Saturday and Sunday to Davos where he will be interviewed live by the men who command the world economy with former Costa Rica president José María Figueres acting as anchorman.

And to scare any possible doubts, the Brazilian president will be travelling to Davos with four Ministers, Finance, Labour, Health and Culture, plus the head of the Development Office, Luis Fernando Furlán who as previous CEO of Sadia one of the world’s largest food companies was a regular participant of the Economic Forum.

Not even former president Fernando Cardoso, who only attended Davos, ever travelled with such an impressive delegation.

“We’re not in the job of opposing the Porto Alegre and Davos forums, rather establishing a constructive dialogue”, said Labour Minister Jacques Wagner.

“If we manage a good rapport with Davos, a good credit condition, Brazil’s country risk will decrease and restrictions to investments will minimize”, indicated Mr. Furlán.